Crawford pleased with AJHL's Evolution
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack coach Bob Crawford said he's comfortable now after his organization closed the books on a third season with two teams.The AJHL is shaping up as he had hoped it would, but he also said that the upcoming 2005-06 season is the league's most important.
"We've got a good college placement history behind us now," Crawford said.
"Every team is going to be stronger because they've got the players they want. Now they're choosing to stay because they see the success of the kids who did stay."
Now that the Wolfpack and other teams have players getting into Division III and Division I programs, the league is getting more looks from elite players. The overall respect for the league has gone up in the court of public opinion even more so because the AJHL has been able to attract academically-motivated hockey players.
Hartford and the rest of the league have produced several NESCAC players that have made immediate impacts for their squads. And with younger hockey players watching that success, the Atlantic League's reputation continues to get better.
"We're getting strong, fundamentally-sound kids that made their regional teams, state teams, New England teams," Crawford said. "They've been with us a long time and they're choosing to stay with us and play. The top kids that normally used to play high school and prep are staying with us."
The success of the Junior B program has gone hand-in-hand with the Wolfpack's success. Hartford's last tryouts were strong because the year before the MET's Connecticut Clippers had a solid season, with 21 players moving on to Junior A or college.
Article by Anthony Maggio - www.usajuniorhockey.com
